in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known." Rom. iii. 16, 17. In this fallen and corrupt condition in which human nature finds itself, the general knowledge of God as a Creator is insufficient to secure peace. Witness those who have no desire to behold the light; those who destroy themselves through an excess of despair; and those who would make their own exit, did not fear bind their impatient hands! But things are soon changed, when the creating God reveals himself as Immanuel in believers; as soon as God by the manifestation of his sanctifying Spirit has re-established his image in their souls. Then the trinity being clearly revealed, God is adored in spirit and in truth, with a zeal like that which burned in the bosoms of the primitive Christians; then men begin to love and help each other with a charity which the world never saw before. 66 The multitude who believed in God manifested as Creator, Saviour, and Comforter, or, what is the same thing, those who truly believed in a trinity, were all of one heart, and of one soul. Walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; and receiving their food with singleness of heart, they rejoiced in God the Saviour, with joy unspeakable and full of glory." The God of hope filled them with joy and peace in believing, so that they abounded in hope through the Holy Ghost. Full of faith, like Stephen, they saw the glory of the Saviour, as, with uncovered faces, by the Spirit of the Lord, they were transformed into the same image, from glory to glory. Conducted by the Son to the Father, and sustained by the Spirit of adoption, they call God their "Father" with unshaken confidence, and praise him on the scaffolds with a transport of joy which the deists never knew. compose If we insist upon the knowledge and adoration of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the three eternal principles that the divine essence, it is not through superstition, as Dr. Priestley imagined; but because scripture and experience concur, in showing this to be the only means of bringing sinners to that happy condition, in which they said, "We have access to the Father by Jesus Christ, through the same Spirit: being justified by faith, we have peace with God," the Father, "by our Lord Jesus Christ, we rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and we glory in tribulation, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto us." It is sufficient to read this twofold evidence in the epistles and acts of the apostles, to see that the holiness and happiness of the first Christians depended on the experimental knowledge of the mystery of the holy trinity; or of God manifested in their souls, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; or as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. It is allowed, things shortly changed; but this change is a proof that the doctrine of the trinity cannot be attacked without sapping the foundation of Christian piety. The gnostics, who, like Dr. Priestley, prided themselves on being more enlightened than other Christians, by refinements contrary to the simplicity of the gospel corrupted the doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and the corruption of manners among the ancient heretics was the consequence of their first revolt. The Arians soon followed the gnostics, tearing the church on one hand, and the Sabellians on the other; during that time the greatest part of the catholics, occupied in disputes with their adversaries, instead of growing in holiness, by a more lively knowledge of the Redeemer and Sanctifier, contented themselves with repeating forms of faith; and they shortly substituted the repetition of orthodox creeds, for true Christian faith, which works by love, and is always fruitful in good works. The church will remain in this state, until the ministers preach with zeal, and the people embrace with ardour, the sacred doctrine of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which includes repentance towards God the Father, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and love shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit; love, the mother of good works, and the distinguishing badge of true Christians. From hence it follows, that Christian virtues flourish or decay, in propor tion as the doctrine of the trinity is rendered clear or obscured among men; for it is on this foundation that the gospel becomes the power of God to salvation to all who believe. And it should be remembered, that faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, of which we speak, is the gift of God; Ephes. ii. 8; and not the word of a nurse, or the dictate of a catechist. It is a divine energy, which is "the substance of things hoped for," a cordial demonstration of "6 things not seen;" for we believe with the heart unto righteousness, before we can make confession with the mouth unto salvation. THE SUPERNATURAL DARKNESS, &c. "AND it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth," or country, "until the ninth hour, and the sun was darkened." Luke xxiii. 44, 45, and Matt. xxvii. 45. This event is recorded, not by the evangelists only, but by Phlegon, of Tralles or Seleucia, in Asia. This learned author flourished soon after the death of Christ, about the middle of the second century. He was one of the freedmen whom Adrian the emperor caused to be taught the sciences; he wrote several works worthy of the learned and polite court where he resided. That in which we are the most interested, is an "Universal History" in twelve books. It is in these annals that Origen, and the learned defenders of Christianity, found the evidences of the circumstance here in question. The words of Phlegon are these: "In the fourth year of the 202d Olympiad, there was the greatest eclipse of the sun that had ever been beheld. About the sixth hour of the day, it produced a night so dark that the stars in the heavens were visible, and it was attended with a terrible earthquake." M. de Cheseux, Calmet, and others, bave proved by their judicious observations that the fourth year of the 202d Olympiad, mentioned by Phlegon, was exactly the eighteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, and consequently the same year in which Jesus Christ was crucified. |